Kidney Community Thanks Congress for Passing Landmark End Stage Renal Disease (ES...( Legislation Significantly Improve...),Health

Legislation Significantly Improves Kidney Care in America for Over 26 Million Americans Suffering from Kidney Disease; Community Commends Legislators for Their Support

WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to today's passage of the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331), Kidney Care Partners (KCP) -- an alliance of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and manufacturers working together to improve quality of care for individuals with kidney disease and kidney failure -- commends the United States Congress for passing landmark legislation including vital End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) provisions, which recognize the importance of much needed reform surrounding the ESRD program for the hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from kidney failure.

"The kidney community applauds the U.S. Congress for recognizing the imperative need for kidney disease provisions for millions of Americans who suffer from kidney failure," said Dr. Edward Jones, Chairman of KCP and practicing nephrologist. "Because of today's historic vote, the millions of Americans who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the millions more who are at risk will have the tools and resources absolutely necessary to better manage their own healthcare and understand the options that exist for not only them, but also the entire kidney community composed of doctors, care providers, and family members. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration in the coming months in the battle against kidney disease."

Specifically, the Medicare program improvements passed today will:

-- Establish important education and prevention programs to help slow the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure;

-- Revise the payment methodology for ESRD treatment;

-- Provide an inflation update to account for critical staffing demands and services.

Each year, more than 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney failure and re
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